Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has given his full backing to manager Mark Hughes following a board meeting in Abu Dhabi.
An inconsistent start to the season has left City with just 13 points from 12 matches, leading to speculation Hughes could soon be sacked.
But Sheikh Mansour said: "Mark has my absolute mandate to implement his plans in the short, medium and long term.
"His strategy is compelling and I'm delighted at the potential he shows."
It is the second time in a week Hughes has received public backing from the club, amid reports that City's lacklustre showing so far this season - especially away from home - has left him under pressure.
Hughes only took over at Eastlands in June, but the arrival of Sheikh Mansour and his company Abu Dhabi United Group as owners of the club led to a complete change of identity for City.
Their spending power suddenly became apparently near limitless, while the immediate aims of the club also sky-rocketed, with ADUG spokesman Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim claiming he expected the club to be challenging for the Champions League inside three years.
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Sheikh Mansour insists, though, that the club are fully behind Hughes following a meeting involving the pair, club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and executive chairman Garry Cook.
"I find that both Mark and Garry share an ambition for success and the enthusiasm and capability to deliver on that ambition," Sheikh Mansour told the club website.
"Mark shared with me his plans for how the team should be developed. I'm delighted at the potential for both men to positively impact the evolution of Manchester City Football Club in its entirety.
"I fully endorse the plans approved by the Manchester City board that Khaldoon, Mark and Garry shared with me (at the meeting). They reflect our shared aim of seeing Manchester City Football Club evolve to become a significant force in the world of football.
"Importantly, we see that evolution being on every level and borne out of a sustainable approach that has its foundations in the club's academy, its fans and the relationship with the Manchester community."
Hughes had earlier attempted to play down talk of a "crisis" at Eastlands, saying: "At the moment, it is all a little bit hysterical, you have to say. People will have to calm down a bit.
"But we will get points on the board because of the quality we have in the squad.
"There will always be disappointment if you do not win but the chairman and everyone involved know that great sides are not built overnight."
And the Welshman expects to receive the full backing of the board when the transfer window opens in the new year, saying: "We will address things and get more quality into the club and the squad because that is what we need to do to move forward."
The need for City to add to the squad in January has been underlined ahead of the trip to Hull City on Sunday, with Richard Dunne, Gelson Fernandes and Michael Johnson joining the list of absentees, though Vincent Kompany should be fit to return to action.
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